Trappers and outdoors enthusiasts from across the province will converge on the Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre July 6-7 for the 45th annual Alberta Trappers’ Association (ATA) Rendezvous and Outdoorsmen Show.
Each year, the convention is held in a different part of Alberta, but with the ATA’s headquarters located in Westlock the association decided to bring it home this year.
“It’s on a volunteer basis, because it’s such a big event,” said ATA executive director Marcie Mazurenka. “So we depend on local groups to host and organize it. It also gives everyone an opportunity to attend from all corners of Alberta. This year it’s going to be a bit bigger because we’re much more central in the province.”
With 500 people already registered and more flowing in, Mazurenka said the gathering would bring in a lot of money for the community as well. She estimated close to 1,000 people will pass through the Spirit Centre in the two days.
Over the two-day gathering, competitions will be held among trappers for things like the biggest beavertail as well as the Ultimate Trapper Competition, a six-event marathon that includes canoe races, skinning competitions and trap laying. One of the events involves blowing up a can of beans by lighting a fire underneath it.
Seminars on trapping and skinning various animals, ranging from wolverines, cougars and foxes, will be held throughout the event.
Also on tap are workshops on knife sharpening, caribou recovery, bee keeping and chain-saw safety.
This will all be held alongside both a silent auction and trade show with live music periodically throughout the day.
Rene Schaub and Crystal Plamondon will close the show July 6 and the Very Drunken Band will hit the stage throughout the afternoon the next day.
A banquet and dance will close the weekend off Saturday night.
Mazurenka noted that while the focus is mainly trapping, the gathering is a family oriented event with children’s activities and anyone with a love of the outdoors will find something of interest to them.
“It’s not exclusive, at the tradeshow there will be vendours with things like guns and ammo and freeze dried foods. There will be a huge kids corner with lots of activities,” she said.
“There’s something for everybody.”
